So you're considering transferring to Alabama, but you're not exactly sure you have actually thoroughly mulled-over all the super-important information before getting to your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you've pertained to the right location - we've put together a convenient, delicious guide that will lay out some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to examine.
We don't blame you for wishing to relocate to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is house to rocket researchers - Huntsville houses both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center at the Redstone Arsenal. The U.S. Army's lead rocket engineer, Wernher von Braun, led NASA's rocketry program throughout the '60s.
What else does the Yellowhammer State need to offer, besides big advances in the area program and unbelievably clever people? Plenty - from stunning landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so quickly your camera starts steaming, to savory soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Continue reading to find why you might just make Alabama your next relocation.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census information, about 4.875 million people currently live in the Cotton State. Get this - 55% of the individuals overall in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study.
Well, for beginners, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer technology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and Emergency Medical Technician, to call a few, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid professions consist of pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law dental practitioner, judge and orthodontist, states bizjournals.com.
The existing joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so chances are quite good for finding work upon your relocation. The federal minimum wage is the very same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, states minimum-wage.
Don't forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight Center. If you have actually got a love for all-things aerial, this might effectively be the new home of your dreams.
Real estate
You're most likely going to desire a location to live after you move (we're simply thinking), so what's the possibility of discovering a brand-new location you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the typical value of homes currently on the market is $128,900, with an average listing cost of $190,000. The average home rent is $995/month, with one-bedroom houses averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly fairly new, too - zillow.com shows that many houses currently available were built in the decade 2000-2010. Not only are odds excellent for you to discover a budget-friendly location to live, however you'll likewise be looking at newish residential or commercial properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the method of brand-new building popping up these days, according to zillow.com. A little is happening in main Alabama, around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a small bit in the northern end of the state, in and around Huntsville.
If cheaper real estate, particularly around the state's hot-spots, attract you, you may just wish to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When transferring to a new place, you may be curious about the individuals there. Will they become your friends, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and stare out of a slit in your blinds in overall fear?
According to locals, locals can be a real combined bag. The consensus is that Alabamians love to chatter, are passive-aggressive, and may just deceive you with their questionable insults. The phrase "bless your heart" is not implied warmly, but rather sardonically - and if you hear it, chances are great that once you have actually left, you'll be spoken about.
Don't let that deter you. Residents stress that the main ambiance of their state is one of true southern hospitality - they utilize "sir" and "ma'am" out of regard, and will give you a warm welcome and great deals of food. They may describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they actually do out of (buffooning) love.
You'll find yourself changing your vocabulary and pronunciations after a move to Alabama. Do not be the loser who sticks out like a sore thumb just due to the fact that you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a well-known event happened on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks fearlessly declined to quit her seat on the bus to a white guy. Today, to honor this local lady's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, attracting great deals of locals and travelers alike.
The people of the Cotton State adore BBQ - and we do mean CRAZY. They'll combat to the death (maybe not actually) over which dining establishment or regional cookout provides the best. These are not conversations to be entered into gently. Be prepared to explain, and safeguard, your stance.
Locals will CONSTANTLY rock out to "Sweet House Alabama" if it comes on the radio, and they'll crank it as much as 11. When they hear that famous opening riff, even Alabamians who covertly dislike the tune will start to boogie. The tune has made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their abundant food and cultural pride. They have rare, supposedly lobster-tasting shrimp called "Royal Reds" from the Gulf of Mexico, fried green tomatoes, super-sweet tea (heavy on the sweet, light on the tea) and MoonPies - and they smother whatever in TABASCOĂ’ sauce.
It seems fitting, with a diet plan that rich and heavy, that residents like to observe a slower pace of life. These self-proclaimed "salt of the earth" types will make you forget your health-enthusiast methods and have you reaching for seconds. Bring additional napkins.
Must-See Alabama Fun + Activities
We understand you're currently halfway out the door, baggage in hand, all set to make your relocate to the Heart of Dixie, but cool your jets for a moment. Prior to you go racing off like you're a driver at Talladega Superspeedway, inspect out this list we have actually compiled of some of the state's primary attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss activities and sights:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum consists of access to the historic Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases distinct artifacts from the nation's area exploration. It's considered to be the world's biggest space museum, and details the history of the U.S. area program. It's also house to the yearly, highly expected Area Camp program featuring the Aviation Difficulty, in which trainees undergo training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands a remarkable 56 feet tall. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel market - and he's sort of a big deal. His 100th birthday was a big celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Found in Woodville, this park offers cave trips, camping sites, hiking and backpacking. It has the largest entryway of any business cavern in the world, and features a sparkly Gemstone Mine with a gem mining experience available to all ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it's situated in Lincoln and includes an extremely anticipated annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race opts for 188 laps, covering simply over 500 miles. Now that's a great deal of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Located in Summerdale, this swamp sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds of wildlife. This is the location for you if you're into looking one of humanity's greatest natural predators almost right in the face.
Pros and Cons of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you ideal your BARBEQUE dish and run to see the alligators and the world's highest Vulcan, we thought it might be worth taking into consideration a short-and-sweet list of a couple of benefits and drawbacks of relocating to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's no secret that realty in the Cotton State is pretty inexpensive, and taxes are quite low. We believe that's simply one of the big reasons that 55% of relocators nationwide in 2017 selected this as their new home.
Nature + all 4 seasons: The surface of Alabama is widely-varied, consisting of beaches, forests and mountains. Since of this, there are lots of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types. Residents likewise like to mention that they experience all 4 seasons and see weather condition from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, damp summer seasons and springtime torrential downpours.
Music: Because of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws lots of big music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's largest annual music event. Big names in all genres - ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to country - make appearances here.
Food: As we've currently pointed out, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a tremendous 28 various food celebrations every year.
Distance to major cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location provides itself to many chances to see all type of festivals, concerts, museums, state parks, shopping destinations and more. Did you actually believe you 'd be tired here?
Humidity: Make that winter humidity. While the humidity in the summertime is undeniably bad, it's the winter that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the extra wetness triggers cold temperature levels to feel absolutely frigid. Locals website say that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees. It may not be long before you're unpleasant here if you're not into feeling the extremes in every season.
Substance abuse: The more backwoods of the state have real issues with hardship, homelessness and block after block of abandoned houses. With this naturally comes problematic substance abuse, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine laboratories are a real struggle to punish (no pun planned).
Extreme storms: While experiencing all four seasons can be argued as a good thing, it likewise implies that there's opportunity for all kinds of rainy weather condition - and this state sees some of the most severe. For beginners, it's one of the most active tornado states.
Weird Laws
We 'd be doing you a significant disservice if we left without giving you a list of a few of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still in existence in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We have actually put together a few that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are simply a few from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railway track is punishable by death. They desire to keep their railroads complimentary of cattle, and they're really severe about it.
It's unlawful to impersonate a priest. For genuine. So stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards new product - you'll thank us later.
It's prohibited to wear a phony moustache in church since it might cause laughter. Religion is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's unlawful to wear a mask in public. Guy, so what are we supposed to do on Halloween?
It's unlawful to play dominoes on Sunday. It disturbs the day off. Duh. You know how heated those dominoes matches can get!
Gotten ready for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well friends, there you have it - a thoroughly designed guide to a few of the main consideration points for permanent moving. Of course, we can't lie and state that we're able to offer you absolutely all the crucial details that might influence your choice (we 'd be here for get more info days), but it's our hope that we have actually given you a great introducing pad to fire up your decision rocket from.
Now it depends on you to decide (after possibly doing some further research) if you can picture yourself in the Yellowhammer State, among the remarkable and not-at-all challenging rocket scientists, the quick racecar drivers, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a real satisfaction compiling this guide for you, and we hope you have actually had your fill of Alabama goodies.
Good luck - and don't forget to remember "Sweet Home Alabama."